K-pop group Cortis performs their title track "RedRed" at the press showcase for their second mini-album "GreenGreen," held at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, in April. [Yonhap]
K-pop group Cortis performs their title track "RedRed" at the press showcase for their second mini-album "GreenGreen," held at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, in April. [Yonhap]

K-pop group Cortis has claimed the top spot on South Korea's Song of the Summer chart on TikTok with their track "RedRed."

According to TikTok's global and country-specific Song of the Summer lists released Wednesday, Cortis was named the representative artist of "K-Pop Summer" and also earned a spot in the "TikTok Summer Honours 2026" category as "Boyband of the Summer."

"We are deeply moved and thrilled that 'RedRed' has been selected as TikTok's Song of the Summer," the group said. "It was a truly special experience watching TikTok users around the world discover our song within the TikTok community and enjoy it in their own creative ways. We sincerely thank COER — our fandom — and everyone who shared special moments of this summer with our music."

TikTok's Song of the Summer is determined by the short-form content and trends users create with music on the platform. This year's chart showed K-pop cementing its place as a central pillar of the global music ecosystem across national boundaries — the result of TikTok's participatory fandom culture combining with K-pop's strengths to generate strong synergy.

The cross-generational spread of K-pop within the South Korean chart was also notable. Recent releases from fifth-generation groups — including ILLIT's "It's Me" and PLAVE's "HMPH!" — appeared alongside the resurgence of mega-hits such as iKON's "Love Scenario." International tracks, including Japanese creator Sasane's "Moshi Moshi," also found renewed attention through memes.

Topping the global chart was pop star Katy Perry's "The One That Got Away," which staged a remarkable comeback 15 years after its release. The 2011 track was used in more than 42 million videos on TikTok this summer, propelling it back onto Billboard's Global 200 chart.

Tracy Gardner, TikTok's global head of music business, said the Song of the Summer list "again shows how the TikTok community embraces music in all its forms — from emerging artists finding fans around the world, to beloved classics being discovered for the first time by a new generation." She added that TikTok "is a space where music culture is shaped and fandoms grow, connecting artists and music with new audiences and turning platform discoveries into something that reaches far beyond it."


shee@heraldcorp.com